A SCOTLAND football team could represent Great Britain at the London Olympics in 2012.

Labour leadership contender Cathy Jamieson made the claim yesterday as she proposed a contest between all four home nations to decide who should represent Britain at the games.

She spoke out as the debate continues to rage over a united GB side. But Jamieson is on a collision course with Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who strongly supports the idea of a joint Scots, English, Irish and Welsh team.

She said: "One option could be a home nations football tournament with the winners representing the UK at the Olympics."

Jamieson added: "Team GB should include a football team but not at the expense of Scotland's football team. It would be wrong to gamble with the identity of Scotland's team.

"Scotland has a long international footballing tradition and I would not do anything to jeopardise that.

"The best way forward is for a deal to be reached that will both allow a Team GB football side but also ensure the home nations' international football future.

"I want the football and Olympic authorities to sit down and work out a solution."

It is feared a united squad would lead to the independent national sides being axed altogether.

But Brown does not see it that way and has held secret talks aimed at setting up an all-British team.

The PM met Fifa chief Sepp Blatter, Olympic organisers and the English FA to discuss his plans for the London games.

And he said yesterday: "I hope there will be a team by 2012. It will be Team UK."

He reckons Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson could manage them. Brown, who was at the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics with 2012 organiser Seb Coe and David Beckham, said: "I've talked to him about it.

"I think he would have to be approached formally but he is one of the people mentioned and he has not turned it down."

Brown hopes the lure of a possible final in London would encourage the individual football associations to overcome their reservations.

But SFA chief executive Gordon Smith last night insisted his stance has not changed. He said: "We have made it clear that we are not going to take part in a British team.

"We are an autonomous footballing nation and I don't see that changing. I don't see football as a proper Olympic event anyway.

"It is a discriminatory event because of the rule that players have to be under the age of 23.

"As things stand, there is no chance of Scotland being involved."

Progress on the issue continues to be made with the English FA. And British Olympic team chief Simon Clegg believes a team will represent Britain in London even if the other home nations aren't involved.

But he said: "The door remains open. It would be a crying shame if sports administrators can't get their act together.

"They have to find a way of making this happen for the sake of the players."

First Minister Alex Salmond is against a joint team and claimed Brown had scored "an own goal" by backing the "daft idea".

He said: "This is an extraordinary blunder by the Prime Minister, particularly leading up to the by-election in Glenrothes."